More importantly, the SYK protein levels trend was similar to gene expression; that is, the SYK protein level was significantly down-regulated in bovine mastitis tissue and LPS-stimulated or GBS-infected bMECs, suggesting SYK plays a critical role in the immune response of bovine mammary gland tissue and bMECs in response to pathogenic bacterial infection. The gene discussed is SYK; the disease is mastitis.